SSBC Brakes for C3s
Pro
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 633
Likes: 1
From: Hamilton, ON, Canada
Re: SSBC Brakes for C3s (ScubaJKD)
They advertise in Vette & Corvette Fever. Web site is http://www.ssbrakes.com. They're supposedly the "inventors" of the SS sleeve for calipers. They have an aluminum caliper called the "Force 10" that sounds appealing. They're just outside Buffalo, NY.
Race Director
Joined: Apr 1999
Posts: 15,152
Likes: 477
From: NM
Re: SSBC Brakes for C3s (75 Hot One)
It is in the new Vette, Oct 2001, just got it in the mail today. They installed the "Force 10 Extreme Duty" brake system on a 72. Prior to the new brakes it stopped 60-0 in average of 171.5, best of 170 feet. Afterwards it was an average of 143 with a best of 128 feet. Impressive but do not know the condition of the factory brakes, would assume they were average with normal wear. So any new system would improve stopping, but best to best this was a 24% improvement.
tom...
tom...
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 12,399
Likes: 247
From: San Jose CA
Re: SSBC Brakes for C3s (Tom73)
I am -horribly- tempted to get a set of those Force 10s.
Ah, the joys of owning a sports car and lusting after every brake/suspension/engine package you can find...
Well, I'm somewhere near my goal, anyways.
-Steve
Ah, the joys of owning a sports car and lusting after every brake/suspension/engine package you can find...
Well, I'm somewhere near my goal, anyways.
-Steve
Race Director
Joined: Sep 1999
Posts: 11,361
Likes: 383
From: Plano TX
Re: SSBC Brakes for C3s (Tom73)
If it needed 170 ft to stop from 60, the brakes were shot. The stock system stops the car in 130-140 ft. Sounds like yet another rigged magazine test designed to get the desired result.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2000
Posts: 3,050
Likes: 9
From: Fairport NY
Re: SSBC Brakes for C3s (zwede)
This is why I like Tom73's web site. If you go to the article section, Motor Trend magazine test the 73 with a LS4 and stopped in 135' and then went on to say that the prior year with a LS5 they stopped in 122'. :confused:
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Race Director
Joined: Apr 1999
Posts: 15,152
Likes: 477
From: NM
Re: SSBC Brakes for C3s (flynhi)
Any benefit from the reported five pounds per caliper dif in weight from GM cast iron to SSBC alum?
tom...
Race Director
Joined: Apr 1999
Posts: 15,152
Likes: 477
From: NM
Re: SSBC Brakes for C3s (Tom73)
After some of the posts above about braking distances I pull some old road tests. Motor Trend test had the following distances for 60 - 0:
72 116 ft
68 119 ft
66 120 ft
In fact, the 63 with drum brakes stopped in 134 ft.
So these test don't look so good after all.
tom...
72 116 ft
68 119 ft
66 120 ft
In fact, the 63 with drum brakes stopped in 134 ft.
So these test don't look so good after all.
tom...
C6 the C5 of tomorrow
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 6,665
Likes: 2
From: Twin Cities Minnesota
Re: SSBC Brakes for C3s (Tom73)
This will be my third reply, maybe _THIS_ time IE wont crash 1/2 way through the F-in reply!
I don't think there will be a braking distance improvement with new calipers.
That is really done with pads I think. I mean, can you lock up the front tires? If so how can you improve that!?
I like the Wilwood calipers because they are light, have better seals that can tolerate more runout and have better heat resistance that the stock rotors.
I don't know about the SSBC brakes, have they improved anything besides the weight?
I don't think there will be a braking distance improvement with new calipers.
That is really done with pads I think. I mean, can you lock up the front tires? If so how can you improve that!?
I like the Wilwood calipers because they are light, have better seals that can tolerate more runout and have better heat resistance that the stock rotors.
I don't know about the SSBC brakes, have they improved anything besides the weight?
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 6,273
Likes: 14
From: Austin TX
Re: SSBC Brakes for C3s (StingrayRacing)
StingRay Racing-
Excellent idea. I'd really appreciate a real world test on brakes and a report on the G-Tech. I'm thinking about taking BFG up on the current tire/G-Tech offer.
Excellent idea. I'd really appreciate a real world test on brakes and a report on the G-Tech. I'm thinking about taking BFG up on the current tire/G-Tech offer.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 1,013
Likes: 0
From: Austin TX
Re: SSBC Brakes for C3s (427V8)
You're probably right...brake pads, rotors and tires will make a bigger difference in stopping distances.
Where better calipers come into play is in not fading when doing repeated stops...such as road racing, autocrossing, etc...and I think a lot of has to do with heat disapation...which aluminum calipers probably do a better job than the stock ones...plus the weight savings.
Where better calipers come into play is in not fading when doing repeated stops...such as road racing, autocrossing, etc...and I think a lot of has to do with heat disapation...which aluminum calipers probably do a better job than the stock ones...plus the weight savings.
This will be my third reply, maybe _THIS_ time IE wont crash 1/2 way through the F-in reply!
I don't think there will be a braking distance improvement with new calipers.
That is really done with pads I think. I mean, can you lock up the front tires? If so how can you improve that!?
I like the Wilwood calipers because they are light, have better seals that can tolerate more runout and have better heat resistance that the stock rotors.
I don't know about the SSBC brakes, have they improved anything besides the weight?
I don't think there will be a braking distance improvement with new calipers.
That is really done with pads I think. I mean, can you lock up the front tires? If so how can you improve that!?
I like the Wilwood calipers because they are light, have better seals that can tolerate more runout and have better heat resistance that the stock rotors.
I don't know about the SSBC brakes, have they improved anything besides the weight?
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 6,273
Likes: 14
From: Austin TX
Re: SSBC Brakes for C3s (Tom73)
From a book I have which collects Car and Driver road tests
68 427/400 80-0 229 ft
68 427/435 80-0 235 ft
69 350/270 80-0 238 ft
69 350/330 80-0 237 ft
69 427/365 80-0 260 ft
69 427/425 80-0 251 ft
73 350/250 70-0 209 ft
73 454/275 70-0 195 ft
75 350/165 70-0 191 ft
76 350/180 70-0 198 ft
76 350/210 70-0 183 ft
In light of these numbers, does the SSBC test make sense?
68 427/400 80-0 229 ft
68 427/435 80-0 235 ft
69 350/270 80-0 238 ft
69 350/330 80-0 237 ft
69 427/365 80-0 260 ft
69 427/425 80-0 251 ft
73 350/250 70-0 209 ft
73 454/275 70-0 195 ft
75 350/165 70-0 191 ft
76 350/180 70-0 198 ft
76 350/210 70-0 183 ft
In light of these numbers, does the SSBC test make sense?
Race Director
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 19,610
Likes: 778
From: Forked River NJ
Re: SSBC Brakes for C3s (flynhi)
I read this article and was wondering also what the stock numbers are. Sounds like a little hype to sell some brake systems. What is the cost for this system from SSBC. That would be a factor over redoing the stock system.
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 6,273
Likes: 14
From: Austin TX
Re: SSBC Brakes for C3s (Gordonm)
Not cheap (but who wants cheap brakes? Inexpensive, maybe, cheap - no way!) I think their site says about $850 for calipers, rotors, pads, etc.
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 1,752
Likes: 1
Re: SSBC Brakes for C3s (flynhi)
Have any of you guys that are unhappy with your brakes try rebuilding the stockers? I was unhappy with mine last year. Put new calipers, resurfaced rotors, hawk+ pads, stainless braided lines, bled system. Added 17" Z-Rated rubber as well and now my Vette brakes HARD, STRAIGHT and SOLID. If I really jump on it, I think it will put me through the windshield. Sorry, not very scientific, but my point is that for those of you who are not superheating your brakes on a racetrack, you will be VERY surprised with how good the stockers are. In fact a few of these brake upgrades have the same piston area or LESS than the stock ones do. Try contacting 71Roadster - he's been researching this heavily lately. . . .
I think you will be amazed how good a decent set of brake pads will work with the stock system. . . .
-terry
I think you will be amazed how good a decent set of brake pads will work with the stock system. . . .
-terry